In preparation for the Jubilee of Consecrated Life (October 8–12, 2025), UISG is presenting a series of five stories from the Sisters project by Vatican News, which will be published weekly on our website.

Through this initiative, we wish to journey together toward the Jubilee, drawing inspiration from those who live consecrated life each day as a gift, a presence, and a prophecy.

This week we share the interesting story of the Sacramentine Sisters in Kenya who belong to The Don Orione family.

The Sacramentine Sisters is a community of visually-impaired sisters. They lack sight, but all their other senses are actively engaged for the glory of God and the good of humanity. They teach catechism, visit and counsel people, farm, rear poultry, make rosaries, and knit. “I need opportunity, not sympathy,” according to Sr. Veronica.

The Don Orione family comprises the Sons of Divine Providence and the Little Missionary Sisters of Charity. Yet, less well-known is that within the same family there is a community of the Sacramentine Sisters, whose members are visually-impaired religious women.

The Sacramentine Sisters spend much of their day in Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament but also carry out an apostolate in their local community. The institute was founded in Italy by St. Luigi Orione, an Italian priest commonly known as Don Orione.

In Kenya, the Sacramentine Sisters’ community has four members: Sr. Mary Carmen, Sr. Mary Angelina, Sr. Mary Rachael, and Sr. Mary Veronica.

Apostolate and prayer

Sr. Mary Veronica always wanted to be a religious sister, but struggled to find a congregation that would accept her due to her visual impairment. She was first directed to the Sacramentine Sisters by a Consolata sister in 1981, and has remained in the community to this day.

“This congregation of the visually-impaired sisters is unique and the only one in Kenya,” said Sr. Mary Veronica. “Our founder, Don Orione, was a charitable person and asked us to be a mother and a sister to the poor. We offer our lack of sight to God for the brothers and sisters who do not know the truth, so that they may experience God, the light of the world.”

Though they are visually-impaired, Sacramentine Sisters are only contemplative. They also teach catechism at their parish, visit people in the nearby village, and counsel people in person and online. “In our charism as Sacramentine Sisters, we adore Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament and talk to Jesus about humanity. We meet the people and talk to them about God’s love. We take the souls to Jesus and Jesus back to the souls,” said the religious sister.

The sisters do Adoration in turns, and engage in other community duties like farming, poultry rearing, making rosaries, and knitting as income generating activities for sustainability. “We join the congregation to give and receive; we don’t join to be helped. We try to be autonomous in all that we do,” said Sr. Mary Veronica, adding: “I need opportunity not sympathy.”

Challenges facing the community

Acquiring books written in braille is not easy for the visually-impaired sisters. For many years, they have imported spiritual braille books from abroad. With a rise in import tariffs, the sisters are unable to receive books as they used to in the past.

However, the sisters acknowledge that challenges make them complete.

“We face challenges with joy, being visually-impaired does not take away our talents and abilities,” said Sr. Mary Rachael.

Sr. Michelle Njeri, OSF - Vatican News